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THE DODGE NARRATIVE, 1780 

FACSIMILE REPRINT 



Sixty -three copies Printed 
sixty being for sale 



NARRATIVE 

OF 

M'^ JOHN DODGE 

DURING HIS CAPTIVITY 
AT DETROIT 



REPRODUCED IN FACSIMILE FROM THE 
SECOND EDITION OF 1780 



WITH AN INTRODUCTORY NOTE 
BY 

CLARENCE MONROE BURTON 



CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA 
THE TORCH PRESS 
NINETEEN HUNDRED NINE 



<& 



n^^ 










THE DODGE NARRATIVE 

I HE Narrative of John Dodge is one of 
the records of frontier life during the 
period of the American Revolution 
that displays the intense feeling of hat- 
red and unfairness evinced by the Brit- 
ish soldiers to the American rebels. 
It was written and published during the time of the 
greatest excitement in the West — the scene of the Nar- 
rative — and is historically valuable because of being 
contemporary with the events in question. 

It was considered of great importance at the time 
of its first appearance, having been at once reprinted 
in England ^ and passed through at least three edi- 
tions in America.^ 

In other writings published in England in 1779, 
appear the first public notice of the cruelties and gross 
irregularities in the administration of justice in De- 
troit under the rule of Lieutenant Governor Henry 
Hamilton, and the presentment of Hamilton by the 
grand jury of Montreal for murder in the execution 
of a Frenchman convicted of stealing. From the Nar- 
rative were taken the charges made against Hamilton, 
when he was a prisoner in Williamsburg, in conse- 



«1 



o 



quence of which he was confined in irons and barely 
escaped a more serious, and perhaps even a capital 
punishment.^ But little at the present time can be 
ascertained of Dodge. He was born in Connecticut, 
July 12, 175 1, and was the son of John Dodge and his 
wife, Lydia Rogers/ John Dodge, the father, was 
a Baptist minister by profession and a blacksmith by 
trade. His son John was one of a numerous family of 
children. His brother Israel, who was with him in 
the West, was nine years his junior, having been born 
September 3, 1760. Before John had reached his nine- 
teenth year he had wandered into the northern part of 
IH'^D the Ohio district and had entered into business as a 
trader in Sandusky. He was familiar with the Indian 
language used in his neighborhood and frequently act- 
ed as interpreter. 

Many of the events of his life from this time, are 
contained in his Narrative and it is needless to repeat 
them here, but mention might be made of other acts 
of his and records pertaining to him, of which he makes 
no mention. On the fourth day of April, 1776, Dodge, 
with William Tucker, purchased a house and lot in 
Detroit, from Joseph Poupard Lafleur, for 3,000 livres, 
and a few days later Tucker agreed to repay Dodge 
whatever sums he had paid for this house if Dodge 
"went down the country," as he then contemplated.^ 
Dodge did not go "down the country," but remained in 
Detroit and sold his interest in the land to William 
Tucker July 6, 1777. In this deed Dodge is described 
as "a trader of Detroit," and it is stated that he bought 

6 



the house and lot of Lafleur June 7, 1774.^ His Nar- 
rative does not agree with the records in all cases, for 
he says he was confined in jail from January to July, 
1776, in daily expectation of death, while the records 
show that he purchased this house and lot during this 
period. The story of the rescue of a prisoner from the 
Indians, related in his Narrative, is contained in the 
report of the Virginia Council of June 16, 1779. Some- 
times at liberty, engaged in trading, and sometimes con- 
fined in jail as a rebel, he remained in Detroit and ,^ *,, 
Mackinac till May, 1778, when he was sent down to 
Quebec, at which place he arrived on the first day of 
June. 

In the reports of rebel prisoners at Quebec in 
June and July, 1778, are three entries referring to 
Dodge as follows: "John Dodge, 24 years old, from 
Connecticut, a trader settled at Detroit for seven years, 
sent down by Lieutenant Governor Hamilton. His 
commercial effects at Detroit. Taken up on suspicion 
of having been in arms with the rebels." ^ He re- 
mained in Quebec until the ninth day of the following 
October when he escaped, going first to Boston and 
subsequently to General Washington. Dodge does not 
state where or when he met Washington, but as the 
General was in attendance at Congress from December 
21, 1778, until some time in the following January, he 
probably met him at Philadelphia. Dodge says he 
visited Congress "having some matters relating to Can- 
ada worthy their hearing." This related to the "cer- 
tain expedition" referred to by Washington in his let- 



ter of December 29th, a proposition to invade Canada. 
Dodge was at Fort Pitt in the early part of January, 
1779, and from that port wrote a letter to John Mon- 
tour.^ There is no record of Dodge's appearance 
before Congress, but he wrote a letter on the subject, 
to Congress, as follows: 

Honorable Congress 

Pitsburg Jeneary 25 1779 — 
as I have Ben one of the grateest Suferers that is now 
in the united States of Ameraca Both in Person and 
Property 

I have Sufiferd Every thing But Death Robd Plundered 
of Every far thing that I was master of But loock upon 
it as an honour that I have Suf¥ard in so just a Cause 
as we are now Engagd in and very happy that I have 
made my Escape from the Enemi after Being Prisener 
two years and nine months I think it my Duty as I am 
now in the Service of the united States to Enform your 
honnours of the Proceedings and Carriings on in the 
Department whare I am — it Both greaves and Sha- 
grans me to the hart to Se matters so 111 Conduckted 
as theay are in this Depar tment — it is very natural for 
Every one that has the Cause of his Contry at hart to 
Enquire into the reason of our grevences — is not one 
the farmers Being Drove of thair Plantation on our 
fronteers By the Saveges — Could theay remaind on 
thair Plantations theay Could have Ben very Sarves- 
able in Suppliing our main army in Provisions in 
Stead of that the Poor mifortonate Peopel are obleged 
to retreet into the thick Setled Contry and I may Say 
live almost upon the Charrity of the Contry which of 
consequence must Distress the hole Contry for Pro- 
visions we will Enquire why those Saveges are our 

8 



Enemies theay are Bribd By the British to take up the 
hachet against us whare is thair rendevous Detroit a 
place Stockaded in with Cedar Pickets and Eighty 
Soldiers to gard it But it is Strong Enough to keep a 
large Quantity of goods in so the British Can and Do 
give near a millian Presents to Bribe the Saveges to 
fall upon our fronteers and Distress our hole Contry 
— But we will Suppose that Place to Be Esily taken 
which it raly is if matters ware Conducted as theay 
ought to Be— But we will Say that the Publick has 
Ben at grate Expence for two years Past and thare is 
nothing Done I may Say nothing thare is a fort Bult 
at Bever Criek and one at tuskerowayes which if theay 
are not rainforst with men and Provisions very Spedily 
we have no reason to think But theay will fall into the 
hands of the Enemi in the Spring now had one of those 
forts Ben Bult at Preskeele or Kichoga or any whare 
on the lake side the men might have Ben Employed 
this winter in Boulding of Boats or gundelows So that 
in the Spring we Could Command the lakes which if 
we Dont we Cant keep Detroit if we take it or if the 
winter had Seveir we Could have gone on the ice and 
taken Detroit and vessels to and with half the men that 
it would have taken at any other Season of the year for 
the vessels would Be all froze up But in Stead of that 
theay are Bult in an Endian Contry whare that all Sup- 
plies may Be very Esily Cut of and give the Saveges 
Susspicon that we are a going to Conker them and not 
our Enemi the English and very good right theay have 
after thare has Ben such threats throw out to them as 
thare has we hant the reason But to Expect then all 
against us Before general Mcintosh marcht from Bever 
Criek the governer of Detroit Put up a few of the 
lower Sort of Saveges By Bribing them to Send word 
to the general that theay would meet him at Shuger 



Criek and give him Battel at the Same time thare was 
more than four to one Sent him word that theay would 
not Enterfeir or misleit him on his march as he had 
told them that he would go to Detroit the general 
marcht to the Place But thare was not one that apeard 
against him he then gave word that all those Saveges 
that Did not Come in within twelve Days time and 
join him that he would loock upon them as Enemies 
and use them as Such and that he would Destroy thair 
hole Contry — now it was an impossibillity for those 
nation that sent him word that theay would not misleit 
him to get word in that Short Space of time which the 
general thought Proper to Set much more Come in — 
now what Can we Expect But to have them all against 
us if thare is not Some Spedy rimedy — I Cannot Say 
what opinion your honours may have of the Saveges 
But I Can asure you that theay are very numerous 
thair numbers are not known that thare has not one 
out of a hundred taken up the hachet against us yet 
But we Cannot But Expect theay will if there is not 
Proper Steps taken and that Spedily — we will Supose 
that the Proper Steps are for us to march threw thair 
Contry and take Detroit which is Esily Done if mat- 
ters ware Conducted as theay ought to Be — and By 
having that in our Possession and the lakes it will Be 
in our Power to forse all those near nations to Come 
upon our terms and that will Enduce all the farrons 
ones to Be upon aliance with us and then we Shall have 
all the trade of that Extensive Contry Quite from the 
north west hutsons Bay lake Superier the heads of the 
macceippia which will make our Contry florish — But 
we will Say the Publick has Ben at grate Expence for 
two years Past and we are no nearer now than we was 
when we fust Set out But what is the reason it is Be- 
cause thare was Peopel Sent that Knew nothing of the 

W 



mater the general told me that he was Brought up by 
the (sic) Sea Shore and that he knew nothing abought 
Pack horseing in this wooden Contry — I Dont take it 
upon me to Dictate or Sensure no one But I think that 
ought to Be Enquired into Before thare was thousands 
Spent But now it is to recall the horses and Bollocks 
are Dead the Provisions is Eat the men must have thair 
Pay it is Sunk lost gone and here we are Still going on 
in the Same way the general has likewise got the ill 
will of all his officers the melitia in Protickaler which 
I am very sorry for as theay are the only Peopel that 
we have to Depend upon to Do any thing in this De- 
artment — now if thare was not any one that knew how 
matters Should have Ben Conducted it would have Ben 
a meteriel Diference — But thare is a gentlemon of an 
unblemisht Carrecter who has Singulied himself By 
leaveing Every thing that was near and Dear to him 
and Come in to this Quarter of the Contry Prepared 
Proper talks for the Saveges and as he was grately re- 
spected By all those who knew him it had its Entended 
Effect and I Can asure your honnours that it has Ben 
the Saving of hundreads of lives and I Can further 
asure you By various Surcomstances and Credible In- 
tilegence that if he had not have Come and Did what 
he Did that thare would not have remaind one family 
this Side alagane mountains — he is Still Striveing to 
keep them from falling upon us But as here is others 
here Strieveing to Set them up it will Be a very Dife- 
cult matter for him to Do it he has Sent for the Cheifs 
of the nations to Come in and that thare is Still mercy 
for them if theay will know thair Duty and as his En- 
fiuence is grate with all those nations who know him 
I am in hope it will have its Effect But I Should not Be 
Disapointed if theay Did not after receiveing Such 
threts as theay have he has like wise at his own Privat 



Expence hired men and Sent threw the hole Contry 
abought Detroit and this side found out the Situation 
of it and when I was Prisener with the British I have 
heard them often make remarks that if he Did not 
Come against that we had not another man in our 
Parts that knew the Situation of the Contry and had 
the Enfluence with the natives as he had — But what- 
ever knoledge he may have Concarning those matters 
he has not never had the offer of ordering of them But 
in Stead of that he has Ben Put under an arest By the 
fals raports of a Poor Ignorant Set of Peopel which is 
to the Eternal Shame of our Contry after he had Savd 
them from Being masacereed By the Saveges that was 
his reward — now I beg that your Honnours will take 
it into Consideration and order some Spedy arange- 
ment Before this Quarter of the Contry is ruined a 
house Devided against it Self Cannot Stand and your 
honnours may rely upon it that is the case here if I 
have taken to much liberty I Beg your honnours will 
loock over it as I would not wish to Do more than My 
Duty — form your most obedient 

and humble Servant — John Dodge — 
upon Colo. Morgans arival here he Sent an Express to 
the Endian nations for them to Come in and thare has 
two runners jest arived here with Speaches of grate 
Concequence which I suppose he will acquaint Con- 
gress with the Eairliest oppertunity — 

(in pencil) 
Specimen of the Literati of '76 — ' 

(Indorsement) 

Letter from John Dodge 

Pittsburg 25 Jany 1779 
Read Feby. 17th. — 

Referred to the board of war — 

12 



This letter or statement was not received by Con- 
gress till December 13, 1781, nearly two years later, 
and the committee to which it was referred, reported 
adversely to the suggestions contained in it, March 20, 
1782. 

Early in 1779, Lieutenant Governor Henry Ham- 
ilton was captured by General George Rogers Clark at 
Vincennes and was carried to Williamsburg, Virginia, 
as a prisoner of war. The letters and Narrative of 
Dodge had been read by some members of the Council 
of Virginia and the Council resolved, June 16, 1779, 
that because of the cruelties inflicted by Great Britain 
on the American prisoners of war, it was proper to be- 
gin a system of retaliation, and they conclude their res- 
olution as follows: — "this board has resolved to ad- 
vise the governor that the said Henry Hamilton, Philip 
Dejean and William LaMothe, prisoners of war, be 
put in irons, confined in the dungeon of the public jail, 
debarred the use of pen, ink and paper and excluded 
all converse except with their keeper, and the governor 
orders accordingly." The charges preferred by Dodge 
against Hamilton, were urged as an additional reason 
for confining the latter in jail. Hamilton answered 
that the statements of Dodge were mutual, and that 
the latter was "an unprincipled and perjured rene- 
gade." ' 

Hamilton's excuses were not well received, and 
although no longer confined in irons, he remained in 
prison for some time, but was finally released and sub- 

13 



sequently returned to Canada as Lieutenant Governor 
of the province. 

Dodge was appointed Indian Agent by Virginia 
and was located in Kaskaskia from 1780 to 1788 and 
possibly until a later date.^° 

When claims of the Revolutionary soldiers to the 
western lands were being considered Dodge laid claim 
to a section, as a refugee from Canada ^^ and his 
heirs were awarded a tract containing 1280 acres in 
the year 1800. This indicates that Dodge died before 
May 8th of that year. Four patents were issued to the 
heirs of John Dodge for lands in town sixteen, range 
twenty, Ohio, July 12, 1802. 

Henry L. Caldwell, a grandson of Israel Dodge, 
wrote as follows : — "I do not know the date of the death 
of Colonel John Dodge, neither can I locate his grave 
or that of my grandfather, Israel Dodge, but the re- 
mains of both are, beyond doubt, resting in the old 
grave yard in Ste. Genevieve, Mo., which adjoins the 
catholic grave yard." ^^ 

John Dodge ,while living at Kaskaskia, held a 
commission of Colonel received from Governor Pat- 
rick Henry of Virginia. His brother Israel Dodge 
was a lieutenant under him at that place. Israel had 
married Ann Hunter at Carlisle, Pa., before he moved 
to the West, and at Vincennes, their son Henry, who 
afterwards became the first Governor of the Territory 
of Wisconsin, was born October 12, 1782. He was 
named after Moses Henry, who was in the fort at 
Vincennes when it was captured by Governor Hamil- 

14 



ton in 1778, being the only private in the "Army" 
which held out against the British invader. 

There is a letter from John Dodge from Kaskas- 
kia, June 23, 1783, informing the Indians that Detroit 
had been captured by the Americans. A false report. 
Va. St. Pap. 3. 500. 

A letter to Philip Boyle at Sandusky, July 13, 
1779, in Farmer's Hist, of Detroit i. 173. This letter 
was intercepted by the British. It enclosed the pro- 
ceedings of the Virginia Council concerning Hamilton. 

Dodge was a great traveler in his day. Born in 
Connecticut in 1751, he went to Sandusky, Ohio, in 
1770, thence to Fort Pitt (Pittsburg), thence back to 
Sandusky, thence in succession to Detroit, Michilli- 
mackinac (Mackinac), Detroit, Quebec, Boston, New 
York, Philadelphia, Fort Pitt, Vincennes (Indiana), 
Kaskaskia (Illinois), Ste. Genevieve (Missouri), and 
New Orleans. We find mention of the man at these 
places and it is very probable that his travels were 
much more extensive. ^^ 

In the Harman papers, as reported by the Mis- 
souri Historical Society, is the following reference to 
Dodge in a letter from John Rice Jones, dated Octo- 
ber, 1789: "John Dodge and Michael Antanya, with 
a party of whites and armed Piankeshaw Indians, came 
over from the Spanish side and attempted to carry off 
some slaves of Mr. John Edgar, and otherwise were 
guilty of outlandish conduct, threatening to burn the 
village." Dodge and Edgar were old friends and fel- 
low prisoners at Detroit. They were both arrested and 

15 



confined in that place as being too friendly towards the 
American cause. Edgar was one of the witnesses re- 
lied upon to prove that Dodge was entitled to the land 
grant for which he had made application as a Canadian 
refugee. 

James Wood ^^ of Frederick County, Va., who 
is mentioned in the Narrative, was appointed to com- 
mand an expedition against the Shawanese, and armed 
his company at his own expense. He was also deputed, 
by the House of Burgesses, in 1775, to go among the 
several tribes of Western Indians and invite them to a 
treaty at Fort Pitt. He set out on his errand June 25, 
1775, and was gone two months. He "underwent the 
greatest fatigues, difficulties and dangers." He was 
ordered paid £250 for "the great service he hath done 
to this colony, by his diligent and faithful execution 
of the commission with which he was intrusted." 

The meeting of the Indians, which is referred to 
in the Narrative, took place at Fort Pitt in October, 
^775- One of the Indian chiefs who was present on 
the occasion, was Shegenaba, the son of the famous 
Pontiac. His father had recently been killed in a war 
between the Indians, and he refers to this event in his 
speech, a part of which is as follows : 

Fathers: From the information I have had of the 
commandant of Detroit, with distrust I accepted your 
invitation, and measured my way to the council fire 
with trembling feet. Your reception of me convinces 
me of his falsehood, and the groundlessness of my 
fears. Truth and he has long been enemies. My 

16 



father, and many of my chiefs, have lately tasted death. 
The remembrance of that misfortune almost unmans 
me, and fills my eyes with tears. 

The following is another letter by Dodge: 

Fort Pitt Deer 13th 1781. 
Sir 

I think it my indispencible duty to Lay before 
your Excellency a State of the Western Islianoy Coun- 
try which may Probably throw Some light on the Var- 
ious Reports which may have Reached you through 
Channels not so well acquainted with it as I am — Since 
Col George Rogers Clark took Possion of that Country 
by order of the State of Virginia the inhabitants have 
been obliged to furnish The means of Subsistance for 
a number of troops stationed Thare — Received bills 
for payment but the Greatest part of them protested 
and Still Remains unpaid which have Not only im- 
poverished the Country to a Great Degree but Num- 
bers have Joynd the Spanish Settlements on the Same 
Account and indeed the Greatest part are determined 
to Follow them if their Grievances are Not Remedied 
in Consequence the enormous Expence the State of 
Virginia has Been at in that quarter will be but of little 
advantage To the united States if the inhabitants all 
leave that Country and Join the Spanish Settlements 
who are Making use of Every means and giving Every 
incouragement In their power Even to our allied Sav- 
ages but as Yet their efforts has proved inafectual with 
them But as Poverty is always loyable to temptation I 
fear their Warmest attachment to us Will be Seduced 
by those Who have it in their power to Supply them 
the inhabitants are too inconsiderable to Guard them- 
selves from the Hostilities of our Enemies and have 
often Solicited me to Represent their Situation to Con- 

/7 



gress before the State of Virginia Gave up their Claim 
to that Country — the the Chief of the indian Nations 
Sent a Speech to Congress Representing the State of 
his Nation and if Nothing Cold be done in Regard of 
Suplying them Beged an answer Which to my knoledge 
was lodged with the board of War and Never no an- 
swer Received — Should Congress think proper to Send 
troops to protect and keep that Country under Subjec- 
tion the Only Way in my Humble opinion to Furnish 
them Would be to send Some Confidential person with 
a proper Supply of Merchandize which would in in- 
courage the Settlement of the Country Cultivate the 
Savage interest Supply the troops with Every Neces- 
sary the Return would also answer for Exportation and 
Finally open a Very Profitable and Extensive trade in 
a little time — But these hints I beg leave to Refer to 
your Excellencies own better Judgment Consious that 
if they are worth your Notice Will direct them into 
their Proper uses — I propose to Leave this Soon for 
that quarter and Shall be Very happy in Rendering 
any Service in my Power which may be advantageous 
to the United States that Your Excellency may think 
Proper to intrust to my mannagement — Pleasd to Ex- 
cuse the freedom of my remarks Which you Will do 
me the Honour to Corruct 

I have the honour to be with the Greatest 
Respect 

Your Excellencies 

Most Obd and Very 
Humbe Servt — 
Jno. Dodge 
To 

His Excellency 

President of Congress 
(Dec. 13, 1782) 

16 



(Indorsement) 
Letter 13 Deer. 1781 

John Dodge 
Read Feby. 27, 1782 
Referred to Mr. Wolcot 
Mr. Clark 
Mr. Patridge 
The Comd discharged 
{Address) 

His Excellency 

President of Congress 
Philadelphia 

The Committee to whom was referred the Letter 
of John Dodge report 

That they have made the fullest enquiry that the 
circumstances of the case would admit, relative to the 
Facts mentioned in said Letter, But have not been able 
to obtain any Evidence to support them — and are there- 
fore of opinion that the Committee ought to be dis- 
charged. 

March 20, 1782. 

In council June 16, 1779. 

The board proceeded to the consideration of the 
letters of colonel Clarke, and other papers relating to 
Henry Hamilton Esqr., who has acted for some years 
past as Lieutenant Governour of the settlement at and 
about Detroit, and Commandant of the British garri- 
son there, under Sir Guy Carleton as Governour in 
Chief; Philip Dejean Justice of the Peace for Detroit 
and William Lamothe, Captain of volunteers, pris- 
oners of war, taken in the county of Illinois. 

19 



They find that Governour Hamilton has executed 
the task of inciting the Indians to perpetrate their ac- 
customed cruelties on the citizens of these States, with- 
out distinction of age, sex, or condition, with an eager- 
ness and activity which evince that the general nature 
of his charge harmonized with his particular disposi- 
tion; they should have been satisfied from the other 
testimony adduced that these enormities were commit- 
ted by savages acting under his commission, but the 
number of proclamations which, at difTferent times were 
left in houses, the inhabitants of which were killed or 
carried away by the Indians, one of which proclama- 
tions, under the hand and seal of Governour Hamilton, 
is in possession of the Board, puts this fact beyond 
doubt. At the time of his captivity it appears, that he 
had sent considerable detachments of Indians against 
the frontier settlements of these states, and had actu- 
ally appointed a great council of Indians to meet him 
at the mouth of the Tanissee, to concert the operations 
of this present campaign. They find that his treatment 
of our citizens and soldiers, captivated and carried 
within the limits of his command, has been cruel and 
inhumane; that in the case of John Dodge, a citizen 
of these states, which has been particularly stated to 
this Board, he loaded him with irons, threw him into 
a dungeon, without bedding, without straw, without 
fire, in the dead of winter and severe climate of Detroit; 
that in that state he harrassed and wasted him, with in- 
cessant expectations of death; that when the rigours of 
his situation had brought him so low that death seemed 
likely to withdraw him from their power, he was taken 
out and attended to somewhat mended, and then again, 
before he had recovered abilities to walk, was returned 
to his dungeon, in which a hole was cut seven inches 
square only, for the admission of air, and the same load 

20 



of irons again put on him; that appearing again to be 
in imminent danger of being lost to them, he was a 
second time taken from his dungeon, in which he had 
lain from January to June, with the intermission be- 
fore mentioned of a few weeks only; That Governour 
Hamilton gave standing rewards for scalps, but of- 
fered none for prisoners, which induced the Indians, 
after making their captives carry their baggage into 
the neighborhood of the fort, there to put them to 
death, and carry in their scalps to the Governour, who 
welcomed their return and success by a discharge of 
cannon; that when a prisoner brought [a] live, and 
destined to death by the Indians, the fire already kind- 
led, and himself bound to the stake, was dexterously 
withdrawn and secreted from them by the humanity 
of a fellow prisoner; a large reward was offered for 
the discovery of the victim, which having tempted a 
servant to betray his concealment, the present prisoner 
Dejean being sent with a party of soldiers, surrounded 
the house, took and threw into jail the unhappy victim, 
and his deliverer, where the former soon expired under 
the perpetual assurances of Dejean, that he was to be 
again restored into the hands of the savages, and the 
latter when enlarged was bitterly and illiberally rep- 
rimanded and threatened by Governour Hamilton. 

It appears to them that the prisoner Dejean, was 
on all occasions the willing and cordial instrument of 
Governour Hamilton, acting both as judge and keeper 
of the jail, and instigating and urging him by malic- 
ious insinuations and untruths, to increase rather than 
relax his severities, heightening the cruelty of his orders 
by the manner of executing them ; offering at one time 
a reward to one prisoner to be the hangman of another, 
threatening his life on refusal, and taking from his 

21 



prisoners the little property their opportunities enabled 
them to acquire. 

It appears that the prisoner, Lamothe, was a Cap- 
tain of the volunteer scalping parties of Indians and 
whites wh[o] went out from time to time, under gen- 
eral orders to spare neither men, women, nor chil- 
dren. 

From this detail of circumstances which arose in 
a few cases only, coming accidentally to the knowledge 
of the Board they think themselves authorized to pre- 
sume by fair deduction what would be the horrid his- 
tory of the sufferings of the many who have expired 
under their miseries (which therefore will remain for- 
ever untold) or who having escaped from them, are 
yet too remote and too much dispersed to bring together 
their well grounded accusations against these prisoners. 

They have seen that the conduct of the British 
officers, civil and military, has in its general tenor, 
through the whole course of this war, been savage & 
unprecedented among civilized nations; that our offi- 
cers and soldiers taken by them have been loaded with 
irons, consigned to loathesome and crouded jails, dun- 
geons, and prison ships; supplied often with no food, 
generally with too little for the sustenance of nature, 
and that little sometimes unsound and unwholsome, 
whereby so many of them have perished that captivity 
and miserable death have with them been almost syn- 
onimous; that they have been transported beyond seas 
where their fate is out of the reach of our enquiry, 
have been compelled to take arms against their country, 
and by a new refinement in cruelty to become the mur- 
therers of their own brethren. 

Their prisoners with us have, on the other hand, 
been treated with moderation and humanity; they have 
been fed on all occasions with wholesome and plentiful 

22 



food, lodged comfortably, suffered to go at large with- 
in extensive tracts of country, treated with liberal hos- 
pitality, permitted to live in the families of our citi- 
zens, to labour for themselves, to acquire and to enjoy 
property, and finally to participate of the principal 
benefits of society while privileged from all its bur- 
thens. 

Reviewing this contrast which cannot be denied 
by our enemies themselves in a single point, which 
has now been kept up during four years of unremit- 
ted war, a term long enough to produce well founded 
despair that our moderation may ever lead them into 
a practice of humanity, called on by that justice which 
we owe to those who are fighting the battles of their 
country, to deal out at length miseries to their enemies, 
measure for measure, and to distress the feelings of 
mankind by exhibiting to them spectacles of severe re- 
taliation, where we had long and vainly endeavoured 
to introduce an emulation in kindness; happily pos- 
sessed by the fortune of war some of those very indi- 
viduals, who having distinguished themselves person- 
ally in this line of cruel conduct, are fit subjects to 
begin on with the work of retaliation, this Board has 
resolved to advise the Governour that the said Henry 
Hamilton, Philip Dejean, and William Lamothe, pris- 
oners of war, be put into irons, confined in the dungeon 
of the publick jail, debarred the use of pen, ink, and 
paper, and excluded all converse except with their 
keeper. And the Governour orders accordingly. 

Attest Archibald Blair C. C. {A copy) 



23 



Mr. D O D G E's 

NARRATIVE 

Of his Sufferings among the 

BRITISH 

AT DETROIT, 




25 




26 



AN BNTERTAININO 

NARRATIVE 

Of the cruel and barbarous Treatment and 
extreme Supferinos of 

M" JOHN DODGE 

DURING HIS 

CAPTIVITY 

OF MANY MONTHS AMONG THE 

BRITISH. 

AT DETROIT, 
til WHICH ts ALSO coNTAivree, 

A paRticular Detail of the Sufferings of 
a Virginian, who died in their Hands. 

Written by Himftlf ; and now pabiilhcd to fatisfy theCa* 
tiofity of every one tliroughout the CJritbd States* 

THE SECOND EDITION. 



Dahvfrs, near ^alcm ; Printed and Sold hf 
E> Rtisssbt. next the Bell-Tavern. M^DCC ixyx* 
At the lame Place may be had a Number of new Book), 
^f iome of. which are on the Times«>»Caib paid fot K«gS 



(j^ TT IS worthy of remark, that 
£ the three perfons who make 
a principal itfglorious figure in the 
following Narrative, viz. Go- 
vernor Hamilton^ De Jeane and Le 
Mote-, were afterwards taken by the 
brave Colonel C l a r k e, of Virginia, 
at Fort St. Vincent, and are now 
confined in iron^ in a goal in Virgi- 
nia (by order of the Legiflature of 
that State) as a retaliation -for their 
former inhuman treatment of prifo- 
ners, who fell into their hands, par- 
ticularly Mr. Dodge,, who has the 
f leafing confolation of viewing his 
favage adverfaries in a fi*milar pre- 
dicament with himfelf when in their 

power though it is not ia the 

bread of generous Americans to 
treat them with equal barbarity* 



28 



NARRATIVE, 



IS O M E T I iVr E fince lefc the place of 
my nativity in Connecticut, and, m the 
year 1770, fettled in 6andufky, an Indian 
vilhge> about halfway between PittAurgh 
and Detroit, where I carried on a very bene- 
ficial trade with the natives, unlil the unhap- 
py difpute between Great- Britain and Ame- 
rica reached thofe pa thleff wilds, dnd roufed 
to war Savages no ways intercftcd in it. 

In July, I77S» Capt. James Woods called 
at tny hoafe in bis way to the different lndi» 
an towns, wherelie was going to.invite them, 
in the name of the Congrefs, to a treaty to be 
held at Foxt-Pitt. the enfuing fall ; I attend- 
ed him to their villages, and the Savages pro- 
nilfcd Jiim they would be there. Capt« 
Woods alfo invited me to go with the In- 
dians to the treaty, as they were in want of 
an interpreter, which I readily agreed to. 

Soorj after the departure of Capx. Wcods, 

the 



29 



( Mr. John Dodges 

the Commander of Fort-Detroit feht for the 
Savages in andahputSandufky, and told them 
that he heard they were invited by the Ame* 
ficans to a treaty at Pittfburgh, which they 
told him was tfue ; on which he delixrered 
them a talk to the following purport : " That 
** he was their father, and as fuch he would 
** advife them a« his own children ; that the 
** Coloniib who were to meet them at Pittf* 
'* burgh were a bad people ; that by theia- 
•* ^ulgence of their Prote<5tor,they had^rowa 
*' a numerous and faucy people j that the 
** great King not thinking they would have 
*' the aflurance to oppofc hi* >uft lawSt had 
" kept but few troops in iAmerica^or. fome 
'* years pail i that thofe men being ignorahl 
*' of their incapacity to go through with 
*' what they intend, propofe to cat off the 
** few regulars in this counfry* and then you 
•' Indians, and have all America to them'* 
•' felvcs i and all they want is, under the 
** thew of friendihip, to get you into their 
••hands as hoftagcs^ and there hold you, 
'* until your iiations (hall comply with their 
•'tcrmj, which if they refufe, you ViU.be 
**all ma(!aered. Therefore do bat go by 
•* aoy meant j Bat if you will join me, 
•' and keep tbcm at bay a little while, the 
'• King, our faihet/ "wiH fend large ^eet« 

and- 



30 



NARRATIVE. 7 

"and itrmtes ro our e(ri(lance» and we 
«< will fooH fabdue them, and have their 
** plantations. Co ourfelvcs." 

This talk fodifmayed thclndians,thal they 
came to mc and faid ibey would not go to the 
treaty, at the fame time telling mc what the 
Governor of Detroit had faid to them* On 
this Mr. James Heron Und ciyfelf having 
the caufe of our country at heart, averted 
thatvirh&t the Governor had laid was falle 
and told them that the Colonift^ would not 
hurt a hairof thelrheads.and if they would go 
to the treaty, that 1, with Mr. Heron, would 
be fecuiity, ^nd pledge our property, to 
the amount of four thoufand pounds, for 
their fafe return. This, with the arrival of 
Mr. Butler with ftefh ioviiadons, induced 
fome of ihem to go with mc to the treary 

In the fall I attended a number of them 
to the treaty, where we were politely- recciv 
ed by the Corpmiflioners feni by Congrefs 
The council commenced ; the Indians, who 
a^ always fond of hfhing in troabled waicr^ 
offered their afliflance, which was refufcd. 
With a requeft that they would remain ia 
peace^ aftd not take up the hatchet on. 
cither iWc. On the wholes thde Indians 

were 



3f 



8 Mr. John Dodges 

were well pleafed with the talk from the 
Congrefs, and promifed ro remain quiet. 

The Commiftioners thinking it proper^ 
font the Continental btlt and talk by Come of 
the Chiefs to the Savages who rcfided about 
the lakes. Thcfe Chiefs being obliged to 
pafs S^ndu/ky, in their rour, Mr. John 
Glbfon, Agent for Indiari affairs requcfted 
me to accompany them, and furniih them 
with what they ftood in need of ; on which 
I took them home. 

On my arrival at the village 1 found 
thQ Savages in confufion, and prcparm/? 
to. war, on which 1 called a Council and 
rehearfed the Continental talk, which 
with a prefent of goods to the amount ot 
^enty Hvc pounds, quieted them. This 
I informed Congrcfs of, agreable to their 
vequefl:, by exprcfs, and that the Cover* 
nor of Detroit was -ftilJ urging the Indians 
to war. Soon after this, a party of Savages 
from the neighborhood of the lakes, came 
to my houfe on their way to the frontier 

*^ ^i^^ * ^^^^ • ^ ^^^^^ ^^ «*ie rear. 
R)n they took up the hatobct I They re* 

P^;^<^>,*^at the Governor of Detroit haJ 

told them, that the Americans were ^ing 



32 



NARRATIVE. ^ 

to murder them all and take their lands 
but ii they would join hbi. they would 
be able to drive them off; and that he 
would give them twenty dollars a ibalp. 
On this I rehear led the Continental talk, 
and making them a fm^all preientthey re* 
turned home, believing as i had told 
them, thai the Governor w&d a liar and 
meant to deceive them. 

On this 1 thought proper to write the 
Governor of Detroit, what he was to ex- 
pect ihould he continue to perfuade the 
Indians to take up the hatchet. He was 
Co enragea at the receipt ot this letter, that 
he oflfcrcd one hundred pounds for my fcalp 
or body, he fent out feveraJ parties to 
take me without effect, until navmg: 
fpread an evil report of me awiongthe In* 
diaos« oa the fifteenth of January* 1776^ 
my houfe was forrounded by about twenty 
fol diets and favages, who broke into the 
houfe. made me a prifoner, and thea 
marched me for Detroit. 

IT was about the dufk of the evening, 
when, after a fatiguing march, 1 arrived 
at Detroit, and was caTried before Henry 
Hamilton, late a Captain in the tifceenth 
regiment, but now Governor and Com - 
B manaant 



33 



lo Mr, John Dodge*s 

inardant of Detroit ; he ordered me to clofe 
confinement* tefiing me to Ipend Uiac 
night in making my peace with Goi>. as 
it was the laA night I ihould live ; I was 
then hurried to a Joathfome dungeon, iron* 
cd and thrown in with three criminals, 
being allowed neither bedding, ftraw or 
fire, although it was in the depth of win- 
ter, and fo exceeding cold, that my toes 
were froze before morning. 

About ten o'clock the next morning, 
I was taken out and carried before the Go« 
vernor, who produced a number of letters 
with my name figned to thtm^ and aiked 
me if they were my hand Writing ? To 
V/hich I replied they were not* He then 
taid* it was a matter of indifference to him 
whether I owned it or not. as he undcr- 
ftood that I had been carrying on a corref- 
pondence with Congrefs, taking the Sa- 
vages to their treaties, and preventing their 
taking up tne hatchet in favor of his Ma- 
Jefty, to defend his crown and dignity 
that I was a re Del and traitor, and he 
Xwould hang me. I afked him whether 
he intended to try me by the civil or mili- 
tary law, or give me any trial at all ? To 
which be replied, that he was not obliged 
to give any damned rebel a trial unlefs he 

thought 



34 



NARRATIVE. II 

thouglit proper, and t&at tie would hang 
every one he caught> and that he would 
begin with me iirft. I told him if he 
took my life, to beware of the confequence. 
as he might depend on it that it would 
be looked into. What, fays he, do you 
threaten me you damn'd rebel ? I will foon 
alter your tone ; here take the damn*d rebel 
to the dungeon again, and let him pray to 
God to have mercy on his foul, for I will 
foon fix his body between heaven and earth 
and every fcoundrel like bim> 

I w A s then redelivered to the hands of 
Philip De Jeanc, who acted in the capaci- 
ty of judge, iherifF and jailor^ and carried 
back to my dungeon, where I was Iboa 
waited on by the Miffionary to read pray- 
ers with me ; but it was fo extremely cold, 
he could not (land it but a few minutes at 
a time. In converfation with him, I told 
him I thought it was very hard to lofe 
my life without a trial, and as I was in- 
nocent of the charge all edged againft me* 
He faid it was very true, but that the Go- 
vernor had charged him not to give me 
the lead hopes of life, as he would abfo- 
iutefy hang me. 

I REMAINED 10 this difma] (itua* 
lion three days, when De Jeane came and 

took 



35 



j2 Mr. John Dodge's 

took out one oi the crimioals who was in 
the dungeon with me, and heJd a .(hort 
conference with him, then came and told 
me, the Governor had fent him to tell 
xne to prepare for another world, as I 
had not longfo live, and then withdrew. 
I enquired of the criminal, who was a 
Frenchman, what De Jcane wanted with 
Isim ? But he would not tell me4 

The evening following he told hi» 
brother in iiftrels, that Dr Jcane had 
ofFc.ed him twenty pounds to hang Mr. 
Podge (meaning nnc) but thai he had 
refufed unlefs he h?d bis liberty j De 
Jeane then iaid, that we fhould both be 
fhot under the galJows. 

6 E I N O at laft drove almoft to de- 
fpair, I told De Jeane to inform the Go^ 
vernor I was readier to die &t that time 
than I (hould ever be, and thai I would 
much rather undergo bis fentence, than 
be tortured in the dreadful manner I then, 
was He returned for anfwer, that I 
need not hurry them, but prepare my* 
felf, as I Hiould not know my time un- 
til half an hour before I was turned off. 

Thus did I languifli on in my dungeon, 
without a friend being allowed to viflt me, 

denied 



36 



NARRATIVE. 73 

denied the neceiTaties of life, and muft- 
have peridied with the cold it being in the 
depth ofwJnter,hadnotmj?fellow-prifbners 
fpated me a blanket from their fcanty {lock. 
Thuidenied the leaft comfort in life to- 
gether wun the uniurt and lavage threat- 
ning I received every day, brought me fo 
very iow» that my inability to anfwcr De 
Jeane^siioreafonable queilions, w th which 
he daily to mented nve refpe^ing innocent 
men^ obliged him to notice my fitaatioo, 
and 00 doubt thinking I ihould die in their 
han(ls> they thought proper to remove mo 
to the barracks, and ordered a Dedtor to 
attend me. The weather had been fo ex- 
treme cold, and my legs had been bolted in 
fuch a manner, that they were fo ben umb-» 
cd,and the finews contrafted, that 1 h^d not 
the leaft \ife of them ; and the fcverity of 
my ufage had brought on a fever, which 
had nigh faved them any further trouble. 

After 1 had lain fometime ill, and my 
recovery was defpaired of, De Jeane called 
and told me that the Governor had aUer* 
ed his mind with refpe^to executing me^ 
and bid me be of good cheer, as he be- 
lieved the Governor would give me my 
liberiy when I got better ; I replied is was 
a matter of indi^erence to me whether be 

gave 



37 



14 Mr. JoHK Dodge's 

gave me my liberty or not, as I had much 
rather die than remain at their mercy j 
On which he faid, ** You may die and 
be damn'd," and bounced out of the room. 

When I had fo far recovered as to be a- 
ble to fetup in my bed, my nurfe being a* 
fraid I fhould inform her hufband of her 
tricks in his abfence, told the Governor 
that 1 was a going to matce my efcape 
with a party of foldiers, that I was well 
and could walk as well as fhe could g 
though at that time my legs were flill fo 
cramped and benumbed with the irons 
and cold, that had kingdoms been at (hko 
I could not walk. 

On this information, De Jeane came and 
told me to get up and walk to the dunge- 
on from whence I came. I told him 1 was 
unable : ** Crawl then you damn'd rebel, 
or I will make you.** 1 told him he might 
do as he pleafed, but I could not fland, 
touch more walk : On this he called a par- 
ty of foldiers, who tofled me into a cart 
and Carried me to the dungeon : Here, by 
the perfuafion of the Do(5tor, wbo v/zh ve- 
ry kind and attentive, I was allowed a bed 
and not ironed. By his care and the wea- 
ther growiAg milder, I got rid of my fever 
and began to walk about my dungeon » 

which 



38 



15 NARRATIVE. 

which was only eight feet fquare ; but even 
this was a pleafiire too great for me to en- 
joy long, for in a few days 1 was put in- 
to irons. The weather now growing 
warm and the place ofFenfive, from the 
filth of the poor fellows I had left there, 
and who were afterwards executed, I re- 
lapfed. By perfuafion of the Do£tor who 
told them unlefs I had air I fliould die, a 
hole about {even inches fquare was cut 
to let in fome air. 

I i^eMained ill until June, although the 
Do^orhad done all that la/ in his power; 
he then let the Governor know, that it 
was impofTible for me to recover unleft I 
was removed from the dungeon, on which 
he fent De Jeaae to inform me^ if I would 
give fecurity for my good behavior, that 
he would let me out of ptifon* Being by 
my ufage and (ever, reduced to a (late of 
defpondence,! told him that it was a matter 
of indifference what he did with me, and 
that his abfence was better than his compa- 
ny : He then publffhed it abroad, and ieve- 
ral Gentlemen voluntarily entered into two 
thoufand pounds fecurity for me,and I once 
more was aUov(?ed to breath the frefli air, af- 
ter {}K months con6nemcnt in a loathfome 
dungeon, except eighi;'or nine weeks that I 
Uy fick at the barracks. On 



39 



/6 Mr. JoMM Dodges 

On my going abroad,! learned that all the 
property 1 left in the woods, to the amount 
of fifteen or fijcteen hundred pounds, was 
taken in the King's name^ and divided a- 
xnong ihe Indians, As I had but little to 
attend to but the recov^ery of my health, 
I mended apace; As foon as I could walk 
abroad, Governor Hamilton fent for me 
and faid, he wasforryfor my misfortunes, 
and hoped I would think as little as poffi- 
ble of them ; that I was in a low ftare. he 
thought I had bed not think of bufinefs, 
or think of what I had left, as he would 
lend nae a hand to necover my lolTes. 
This Cnooth difcourfe gave me but little 
fatisfaftion for the ill ufage 1 had received 
at his hands j howevef. i was defermincd 
to reft as eafy as I could, until I had an 
opportunity of obtaining redreh. 

As foon as T found myfelf to far recover- 
ed as to be able to do bufinefs, which was 
io September, I applied to the Governor to 
go down the country, but he put me off 
with fine words, a permiffion to do bufinefs 
there, and a pfomife of his afiiftance. I 
now fettled tny accounts with thepcrfons 
with whom I was conne^ed in trade, and 
found tnyfeUfeven hundred pounds m debt. 
My credit being pretty good, I fet up a 

retail 



40 



NARRATIVE /7 

retail ftore, and as many of the inhabitants 
pitied my cafe, they all feeming willing to 
fpend their money with mc. My being 
inafter of the different Indian languages 
about Detroit, was alfo of fervice to me, {o 
that in a (hort time I paid off all my debts, 
and began to add to my flock. 

In the fprfng of 1777 1 heard there was like 
to be a good trade at Machilimakanac, on 
which 1 applied to the Governor, and with a 
great deal of trouble got a pafs, went and met 
with gooH trade. On my returnGovernor Ha- 
niiltOH by feveral low arts attempted to pick 
my cargo, which a^ it woiUd fpoil the fale of 
the remainder, I could not allow. As he had 
nopretcnce for taking them from me by force, 
it once more provoked him to wrath againfi: 
me ; he greatly retardfid my Tales by denying 
ing me a permit to draw my powder out of the 
magazine ; alfo ordered myfelf and two fer- 
vants to be ready at a moment's warning to 
march under Capt. Le Mote on a fcoutin^ 
party with Savages ; i told him it was agamii 
my inclination to take up arms againft my 
own flefti and blood, and much more To to go 
with Savages to butcher and fciip defencelcfs 
women and children, that were rvot interefted 
in the prcfent difpute : He faid it was not any 
of imy bufmefs whether they were interefted 
in the difpute or not; and added if you are 

not 
41 



xSf Mr. fOHN DoDGS^i 

not ready when called for, I will fix you 
J-ucky for me he was Toon after called dovm 
the country, and fuccfided by Capt. Mount- 
prtfentas Commander, whoordcred Lc Mote 
ro ft r ike my name out of his books : bat 
my ifervants with their pay, I loft entirely. 

The party of Sifvagcs under Le More went 
otit with oVdefsnot to fpare nrMin, woman or 
child. To this cruel mandate even fome of 
tlw Savages road6anobje<5tion» refpe€ling^ ih« 
butchering women and children, but they 
were told «bc chttdrco would maktf foldierg^ 
and the women wbulAikee-p up tnc ftock.-- 
Thofe fons of Britain offered no reward for 
prifonets. but they gave the Indians fwenty 
<>ollars A fcalp, by which means may indue* 
ed the Savages to make rh« poor inhabiraftts, 
who they had torn from their peaceable 
homes, cafry their baggage %intil witl^ in a 
fhort diftanc© of the fort, wherein cold bln^d, 
they mirrdered them, and delivered their 
grc£n fcfllps in a few hours after to thofe 
Britifh Barb^ria^, who on the iTrft yeH 
of the Savages, flew to meet and hug them 
to tliiir breafts teekiftff with tire blood of 
'irtfioccnco, and fhewea Ihcm every matfc ol 
pV a»^ appfobatioAi by iiiringof cannon &.c. 

One of ihefe parties returning with ahum- 
bcr of woman and children's fcAlps^ and three 
f fifontr*, fhcry were ft>t> hy \he Commander 

«f 
42 



NARRATIVE. 19 

of the lort, and after iifual demonftcations of 
joy delivered their fcalps,tor whicb tbey were 
paid ; the Irrdians then made the Comman-* 
dant a.prefent of two of the prifoners, reietf'- 
ing the third as a facrlfice to the manes of one 
of them that had fell in the expedit-ion. Be« 
ing ihocked at the idea of one of my fellows- 
creatures heing tortured and burnt alive by 
thofe inhuman Savages, I fought out the In- 
dian who had loft his relative, and to whom, 
itccording to the Indian cuftom, this unhappy, 
man belonged $ I found him. (00k him home 
with me, and by the affiftance of fome of my 
friends and twentyfivcpoundt worth ot goods; 
I perfuadcd the inhuman wretch to fell his 
life <o me. As the reft of the gang had taken 
the prjfoner about two leagues diftance, and 
were making merry over him, we were obli- 
ged to lay a fcheme to delivef him from their 
hands, which we did in the following man- 
nefi it being midnight and very dark the In- 
dian, myfelf and two fervants crofted the fi-» 
ver in a batteaox to where they were carouf • 
ing around this unhappy vidinru The in- 
dian then went to his companion* and under 
a pretence of taking the prifoner Out to anfwer 
a cal] of nature^ delivered him to me, who 
lay at fome diftance, and I carried him to the 
batteaux. As foon as he found himfelf in the 
hands of bis deliverer, his tcanfport was too 
great for his tender frame : three diRerent 

times 
43 



20 Mr. John Dodge's 

times he funk lifelefe in my zxms, and as of- 
ten by the help of water, the only remedy at 
hand, 1 prevented his going to the landof fpi- 
rits in atranfport of joy. None but thofe who 
have experienced it, can have an idea of the 
thoughts that mufl have agitated the breaft 
of a man, who but a few minutes before faw 
himfelf furronnded by Savages, whofedifma! 
yell, and frightful figures, heightened by the 
glare of a large fire in a difmal wood, which 
rauft have harrowed up the foul of an unin- 
terefled byftander»much more one who knew 
that very fire was prepared for his execution, 
and that every momdnt the exeeutloner-was 
expected to arrive. --The executioner arrives ; 
he advances towards him j he lofens this un* 
happy vidim from che tree to which he was 
bound, no doubt as this yoUng man imagined 
to be led to the ftake j but as it Avere in ari in- 
flant, he finds himfelf in the hands of his de- 
liverer and fellow-countryman. This, as I 
faid before was too much for him to bear j 
however I got his almofl: lifelefs corpfe to 
my houfe, where I kept him hid. The In- 
dian, according to our agrement in an hour 
or two after I was gone, returned feemingly 
much fatigued, and told his fellow Savages 
who were impatiently waiting to begin 
their brutal facrifice, that the prifoner had 
efcaped, and that he had in vain purfued him. 
Some time after this I found an opportunity 

and 

44 



NARRATIVE. 21 

and made an agrement with the Captain of a 
vefTel going to Michilimakanac, to take my 
unhappy inmate with him,but one of my fer- 
vants being tempted, by a large reward that 
was offered for retaking the above prifoner, 
informed De Jeane, that he was hid in my 
houfe, on which my habitation was foon fur- 
rounded by a party of foldiers under the com- 
mand of faid De Jeane, and myfelf, the young 
man and four fervants were made prifo- 
nets, and having demanded my keys, which 
I delivered, we were hurried to goal and con- 
fined in different rooms. Here ihis unhap- 
py young fellow, in high expectations of 
feeing his friends, was once more plunged 
into the horrors of imprifonment. 

Representation ot the Indian Manner 
of bummg an En^iifh Prifoner. 




22 Mr. John Dodges 

I was fent for and carried before the Com 
mandant, where, on being examined who was 
the perfon in my houfe, 1 frankly told him it 
was a young man whom T had bought ot the 
Indians when they were going to burn him, 
and that J meant to fend him to Canada to 
bfi out of the way of the Savages, bui Dc 
jeane, like other mea of bad principles, 
thinking no man could do a good adlion 
without frnifter views, faid that he believed 
I had purchafed him to ferve my own ends, 
and that he would find them out, which the 
Commandant ordered him to do as fooii as 
poffible, and I was ordered to prjfon. 

De Jeane then took try fervant, who was 
his informant, ironed him. put hxm in the 
dungeon, and after keeping him three days 
on bread and water, the lad almoft fright- 
ened our of his fenfeS/ fent for De Jeane, 
and told him that the day before I was ta- 
ken up I had wrote feveraT letters, and on 
his bringing a candle to feal them, that I 
faid, if be lold any one that I was writing 
to Pilfbufrg, that I would blow his brains 
out. This fulting De Jeane's purpofe, ho 
made ilie lad fwear to It, and then fet him 
with the reft of my fervants at liberty. 

I WAS now once more called before the 
Commandanr, who told me he undeiftood I 

was 



46 



23 NARRATIVE. 

was going to fend aa exprefs to his Majefty's 
enemies, in confequence of which he bad ta- 
ken an inventory of my efFc/Sts, and meant to 
fend me to Canada. I toM him he was 
mifinformed : He then taxes me with what 
De Jeane had forced from my fervant ; afked 
me where I was writing the day before I was 
taken ? I told him to my correfpondertts in 
Montreal ; and luckily for me a neighbor 
of mine, having been at my houfc, was pro* 
duccd, who declared the truth of what I 
laid, and that I bang hurried, had given 
him the letters to carry on board the vG{ft\ , 
This with fome other falfe accufations be- 
ing cleared up, I was once more releafed 
00 giving frefli fecurity. 

Though myfelf and fervants were* for 
want of 3 pretence for decaining us> fct at 
liberty^ it was not fo with the unfortunate 
young man whom I had purchafed from the 
Indian ; he Ail! remained in prifon, daily tor* 
mented wfth the threats of De Jeane, that he 
would deliver, him to the Indians, which fo 
preyed oa his fpirits, that in a Ihort time it 
thi'ew him into a fever, I then applied to 
Capt Montpf^fent, the Commandant, who 
gave me pcrmifnon, and I removed him to 
fick quarters, where I hired Jacob Pue, of 
^^trginia, his fellow prifbner, to attcud faim 

I 

47 



2j\, Mr. John Dodge's 
1 atfo. when leifure would permit, attended 
him myfelf ; but De Jeane, who ftill haunted 
him, had fo great an eifcif^ on b«m, that one 
day when I vifited him, he called me to his 
bcdfideand faid to me, that Dc Jeane had juft 
left him, that he toid him to make haile and 
get well, &$ the Indians were waiung tor him. 
Pray Sir, (faid the young man to D& Jeane) 
for Gop^s fake try to keep me from the In* 
diins, for if they get me they will bum me. 
Keep ^oti from themj faid De Jeane, you 
damn'd rebel you dcferve to be burned, ana all 
your damn'd countf\'men with you, foTyou 
need not' think Dodge can fave you ; Gene- 
ral Hamilton is now come up, and he will 
fix you all. 1 tried to comfort him, and told 
him to be of good icoursge : Oh ! replied he. 
I am almoft diftradlcd with the Jdea of being 
burnt by the Savages j I had much rather die 
wherel am, than be delivered into the hands 
of thofe horrid Wretches, from whom I fo 
krelyby your hands efcapcd, the rccoUedlion 
of which, makes me fhudder with horror. 
He could fay no more 5 he funk under it^ 
and in a few hours after, death, more kind 
than his cruel tormentors, rcleafcd* him 
from his troubles* I paid the lafl tribute to 
this my unhappy Countryman, and had bis 
corpfe decently interred, atrendetl by the 
Miflionary and moft of the princapal Mer- 
chants of the tgwn. As 

48 



V E 25 




As Hamilton was arrived, I had every thing 
to cxped that his oialice could invent, more 
efpecially as De Jeanc, to whom his ear wa8 
always opcn,had told him (as I wa? informed) 
all and more than what had happened dating 
his abfence. About a month after the deatliof 
the udhappy young man above related, I bad 
occaiion for fome of my powder out of the ma- 
gazine : I Wrote an order to the conductor, 
according to cuftom and waited on the Go- 
vernor to have it figned i on prefenting it to 
him, he looked at itk and then looked at me 
with a iarcaftic fmilc (aid. It is powder you 

D want 



49 



ti6 Mr. John Dodge's 

want, you damo'd rafcal is it f At the fame 
timetcaring my order and throwing ft in my 
face ; You have behaved yourfetf very wclU 
have you not T After my granting you your 
life, you would not go with Le Mote^ would 
you not ? fays, he and ftartihg up in a great 
paflion as though he would ftrike me, put 
himfelf between me and the door. What, 
fays h^, you have a damned deal of influence 
with the Indians 5 you can purehafe prifon- 
ners without my approbation can you ? you 
damn'd rafcal. Sir, faid T, I atn no rafcal ; not 
a word out of youf moiith, fays Hamillon, go 
about "^our hu/lnefi and take care of me or I 
will ^x you : Irieplied a had alurays been 
my itudy to take care of hfm ; not a word . fays 
he, go a()Out your bu(inef$, and blefs your 
ftats 1 was hot he*e mftead of Capt, Mont- 
pnelentj for t would have fixed you, you 
damnM fcoondrcf. Here I took my leave, 
went home and determined to think as lit- 
tle of Mr. Hamilton and his nfage as poflrble, 
tinlil I bad an opportunity ofgctting redrefs. 

Not^itbflanding the hatred o^f HamHtdh 
and De Jeanev I fpent the forepart of ^e win* 
tef very happify, until the acth of Jan. 1778. 
when feverai MerchantaofnieitoWngotper^ 
miifioo to go to Sanau&^to trad^^atid zB they 

propofed 



50 



NARRATIVE. 



27 



propofed encamping about two Ungues from 
the town, m^felfandfeveral others in a friend- 
ly manner, propofedanddid accompany them 
ifl our (Icighs to their fir ft ftiige ; inxt on oQi 
return, I being a head, was diallenged by De 
Jeane, at the head of thirty or forty foldicpp, 
by a/king v(rho came there ? To wTiich I re- 
plied» John Dodge ; he then ordered the fol- 
diers to Ce'ize me and the two gentlemen in 
the flcigh with me, and forced us to retufa- 
to the encampment we had juft (eft,^here h© 
leized the whole of rhe gentlemen who were 
going by permilfion to Sanduflcy, with their 
goods, fleighs, &c. and carried the whole of 
us the next morning back to the fort, and 
charged us with fending out goods tofupply 
(as be politely termed h the rebels. 

After being detain^ three days in prifon 
I was uken to De Jeane's houfe to fee my 
papers, books, dcfk. &c. examined. They 
broke open my defk pretending to have loft 
the key. On fearching, they could not find 
any thing worth their notice, or what they 
expected to find. De Jeane then gave me mv 
keys, and told me to fend for my defk and 
take care of myfelf aa h^ wonid watch me : 
I told him, as he had taken it from my houie 
aad broKe it, be (hould mend it and fend it 

home 

5/ 



a8 Mr. John Dodgers 

home before I would receive it : Stop a tittle 
iaid he, I will fpeak to the Governor and fix 
you yet if 1 can ; he then gave me into the 
case of the guard, and ordered me to goal. 
About the fifth day after this, not nearing 
any thing from him, ( fent for my violin, and 
vras divettrng myfelf, when Governor Ha« 
milton pafled by, and inquired who was play- 
ing on the violin, to which the Corporal of 
the guard anfwer'd it was me. The next day 
De Jeane waited on me with fl Blacklmith^ 
who foon clapped on a pair of hand^ bolts i 
and now, fays De Jeane, I hnve fixed, you- 
you may play the violin until you axe tired ; 
I aiked him what I had done to he treated 
thus ; for that you mud appl^ to theOover- 
xioc faid he,fdr it i> his ploafure thatyou are Co I 
He then threatened to put on my kg bolts; on 
which I told him I did not value hh Irofw^but 
if he kept me prtfoner, I fliould look to hiih 
for my property, (atK>ut 3000!. ) Yea. fays he. 
w^ will fix you and your property too, and 
then left me About fix days after, 1 was ta- 
ken to ray own houfe, where tv^o Englifh and 
two Frenchmen, by otder ot the Govetnor, 
took an inventor of my goods, and Soon af- 
ter fold the wholly at vendue, for about 1900I. 
New-York currency. Thus being a feconti 
time robbed ot cny property^ 1 lay a prtfoner 



52 



NARRATIVE. 29 

as contented as pofUble, without any thing 
material happening until the firft of May« 

Ok the firfl: of May 1778. I wa« put on 
board a rcdel to go down to Quebec, aod by 
fome of my friendj farni{he4 with provifioa 
and neccflaries for the voyage; bulofthefe 
I was robbed by De Jcanc, and had it nni been 
for fome gentlemen, paflengers m the fame 
vefTel, I muft have fuffered with hunger. Oo 
the firft of Jone I arrived at Quebec, where 
I was condudked to Mr. Pfintice* the Pra- 
vofl Mar{hal ! Ha! hat fays he. Mr. Dodge, 
are you here f I have often been told yoa 
were a damn'd tafcal doing all yoa could 
againft government h i$ a pity Governor 
Hamilton did not hang you when he was 
about it^ as he wouU have (aved govern* 
ment a great deft! oftrOQble< F/dm hence 
I was condudied on board the prifbn (hip 
Mariah, with a nuniber of Farmers. Cakea 
off their plantations by the Savages. 

Two days after I was pat on board the pri- 
fon (hip. we werevifited by Mr. Murray, 
CommifTaryof Priioners, to whom I gave an 
account of my capture and ill ufagej he 
told me. he would fpeak to the General, and 
give me an anfwer. Two days after, he came 
OD hoard, and told me, as it vnis very diHr^ 

cqU 



53 



3Q Mr. John Dodge's 

cull limes, I could not have a hearing ai 
prefent ; I told him I warned nothing but 
what the Englifli conftituhon allowed, 
and if I could not get that in Quebec, 1 
would apply to England ; to wKicK he re- 
plied I had better be eaiy, for if I did not, 
he would put me in irons a^ain. 

I remained on board the prffon (hip until 
4he begiQing of Auguft, when Mr. Murray 
came on board, and informed me that 1 was 
not to go with rhe prifonets ; but if I would 
give my parole, I (houJd be allowed the li- 
berty of Quebec. 1 afked him the occa- 
(ion I could not be tent with the other prifo- 
ners ; he replied it was the Governor's or- 
ders : I a{ked him if I was to be allowed any 
Ibpport ; he faid» not any. I told him it was 
very hard to be dragged from my houf&. rob- 
bed of my property, deprived of my liberty, 
fent i20o*mile5in irons, and ftiil be held a 
pri fonef in the town of Quebec, without any 
allowance for fupport : All my applications 
were in vain, (was fet on (hoce under pa~ 
xole the fourth of Auguft, and the (hip 
failed with the other prisoners foon.after. 

The caofc of my detention, as I was after- 
wards told by Mr, Murray, was, that Gover- 
nor HamiltODt of Detroit, had wrote the 

General 



54 



31 NARRATIVE. 

General Aot to fend me round witb fheoth^T. 
piifoneT$ ; for if I got mto the United States, 
be knew I would come immediately upon 
him, and as I knew the country, was well 
acquainted with the languages of the difPsr- 
ent Indians about the lakes, and had great 
influence among them, fhould be The means 
of their lofing the fort, which woufd ho 
much againft the crown- 

On ray enlargement, I foongot aiC^uaint- 
ed with a number of gentlemen, who were 
friends to the United States, and the caufeifi 
which they were engaged. Some days after 
going on (here, I fell in company with a Mr. 
Jones, who happened at that time to b^ 
readmga letter lent by General Montgomery^ 
while he lay before Q^uebec. to Gov. Carlttin, 
and on concluding it ^rd he hoped GeneraJ 
Montgomery was in h«ll,aQd thatall tharfs- 
bels would foon be with him ; to this 1 made 
a reply, words enfued, and ihen blows > he 
drew on me. but I parried his thrust with 
my cane, fo that 1 only got a fmaJl wound 
OTimyknee; He then made a complaint and 
I was fent for by the General, who threat- 
ened 10 put mc m confinement, if 1 did not 
find fccuiity $ this 1 foon found, an.d bonds 
Were given for me for two momhs i at Lhe 

end 



55 



n^ Mr JoHH Dodge's NaRRATTVE 

end of whUH, as Ihey neglrcted renev/fng 
them and left me Without parole or fecuri. 
ty, I hired an IndUn guide, and on the ninth 
of Oct I qurftcd Quebec » After a fafiguing 
ppwrch through the woods, on the iolh of 
Nov. I arrived at Bofton. where I was kind- 
ly received and politely treated by General 
Gates who fupplied my wants and forward- 
ed tomebhis Excellency, Genera I Wafhing* 
ton ; li waited on him^ Wss politely received 
and SETkton lo Congreff, having fbrrte mat 
tera re latln^ to Canada.^worthyof thelrhsftm 

Had the love of my countr\ no ways 
pTDJupted me to actagainft fhe tyranny of 
pyjtain. I 'eave it lo the world to \udgc 
Whether i have not a right to revolt from 
tinder J he dominion of such tyrsnts and ex- 
ert every iacutfy Cod hds ^Ivenmeto feek 
satisfaction for the ill ufkgel received ^than 
!f I had fen thoufand lives, an d >was fure to 
lose them all: I thfnK should I not attempt 
to gain ffltiifacVion I fhould deferveto be a 
flave the remainder of my life. 

r I N 1 s 



56 




57 



NOTES 

1 Almon's Remembrancer, 1779. 

2 First edition, Philadelphia, 1779, and second edition, Danvers, Massa- 
chusetts, 1780; also printed in Connecticut Gazette and Universal Intelligencer, 
February 2, 1780. 

3 Virginia State Papers, i, 321. 

4 Dodge Genealogy, page 137. American Ancestry, 6, 192. The sketch 
in The Magazine of Western History, 4, 282, contains many errors. 

5 Wayne County Records, B. 9, 91. 

6 If this date is correct it would appear that Dodge was in Detroit 
before he was brought there as a captive. 

7 Manuscript, British Museum. 

8 For a history of the Montour family see Egle's Notes and Queries, 3rd 
series, 1, 118. John Montour was arrested and confined in Detroit in 1778. 
See Michigan Historical Society Collections, 9, 434. 

9 Michigan Historical Society Collections, 9, 512. 

^o Fergus Historical Series, number 31, page 62. See also number 33, 
pages 159, 182, 183, 209; also Calendar of Virginia State Papers, 1, 367. 

11 American State Papers, Public Lands, Volume i, (Gales and Seaton), 
106, no. A letter from John Rice Jones on file in the Interior Department, 
dated January 18, 1800, states that Dodge and his wife were both dead. 

12 Letter from Henry L. Caldwell to Louise M. Dalton, Missouri His- 
torical Society, dated December 4, 1906. Mr. Caldwell died April 11, 1907, a 
very old man. Miss Dalton was secretary of the Missouri Historical Society 
and died in June of the same year. 

13 A little information is obtained from the Ste. Genevieve records, 
now in possession of the Missouri Historical Society, and a letter of John 
Rice Jones now on file in the Interior Department at Washington. The Jones 
letter is dated January- 18, 1800, and in it he says that John Dodge was mar- 
ried somewhere in Virginia and that both Dodge and his wife are dead. 
From the other records it appears that the wife's name was Ann. 

14 Wood was a Revolutionary soldier and officer of considerable im- 
portance, and was elected Governor of Virginia, serving from December i, 
1796, till December i, 1799. He died July 16, 1813. American Archives, 
4th Series, Volume 4, no-115. See also same series. Volume 2, 1209, 1240. 
Wood's Journal is in The Revolution on the Upper Ohio, page 34. Old 
Westmoreland, 18. American Archives, 4th Series, Volume 3, 1542- 



INDEX 



Antanya, Michael, assists Dodge, 
IS- 

Beaver Creek (Bever Criek), 9. 
Blair, Archibald, 23. 
Boston, visited by Dodge, 7, 15; 
Dodge meets General Gage there, 

Boyle, Philip, letter to, 15. 
Butler, Mr., aids Dodge in induc- 
ing Indians to make treaty, 31. 

Caldwell, Henry L., grandson of 
Israel Dodge, 14. 

Canada, Dodge proposes to invade, 
8. 

Carleton, Sir Guy, Governor in 
Chief of Michigan Territory, 19; 
Mr. Jones reads letter from, 55. 

Carlisle (Pennsylvania) , Israel 
Dodge marries Ann Hunter at, 

Clark, Gen. George Rogers, of Vir- 
ginia, captures Lieut.-Gov. Ham- 
ilton, 13 ; takes possession of the 
Western Illinois country, 17; let- 
ters to Congress considered by 
board, 19. 

Clark, Mr., Dodge's letter to Con- 
gress referred to, 19. 

Congress, Dodge visits, 7, 56; 
writes letter to, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 
1 3 ; reports adversely to sugges- 
tions in letter, 13 ; Dodge writes 
second letter to, 17, 18; Commit- 
tee of, report on the John Dodge 
report, 19; Commissioners of, treat 
with Indians, 32; Dodge informs, 
of council with Indians at San- 
dusky, 32. 

Congressional Board, the, reports 



on letters of Colonel Clark and 
others relating to Hamilton, De- 
jean and Lamothe, 19, 20, 21, 22, 
23 ; recommends punishment to be 
inflicted upon these prisoners, 23. 

Connecticut, birthplace of Dodge 
15 ; Dodge leaves, 29. 

Continental talk, 32, 33. 

Dejean, Philip, prisoner of war, 
13; Justice of the Peace for De- 
troit, 19; prisoner of war, 19; 
his cruel treatment of Dodge and 
other prisoners, 20, 21, 35, 36, 
37> 38, 39. 47. 48; captured by 
Colonel Clark of Virginia at Fort 
St. Vincent (Vincennes), 28; 
imprisons Dodge a second time, 
45 ; informs Hamilton concerning 
Dodge, 48 ; seizes Dodge and 
companions near Sandusky, 51} 
examines Dodge's papers, 51. 

Detroit, John Dodge locates there, 
6; refers in letter to its garrison, 
9 ; Governor of, bribes savages, 
9; proposes to take by force, 10; 
visits, 15. 

Dodge, Henry, son of Israel Dodge, 
14; bom October 12, 1872, 14; 
first Governor of Wisconsin Ter- 
ritory, 14. 

Dodge, Ann Hunter, wife of Israel 
Dodge, 14. 

Dodge, Israel, brother of John 
Dodge, 6; commissioned as lieu- 
tenant, 14. 

Dodge, John, birth, 6; parentage, 
6; early life as a trader, 6; pur- 
chases land, 6; confined in jail, 
7; appointed Indian Agent by 



6/ 



Virginia, 14; lays claim to wes- 
tern lands, 14; patents issued to 
his heirs, 14; date of death, 14; 
place of burial, 14; holds commis- 
sion as colonel, 14; places visited 
in his travels, 15; writes second 
letter to Congress, 16, 17; acts as 
interpreter for Captain Wood, 
29 ; makes present to Indians, 32, 
33 ; writes to Hamilton, 33 ; 
taken prisoner by Indians at in- 
stigation of Hamilton, 33; taken 
to Detroit, 33 ; condemned to 
death, 34, 35; his suffering and 
sickness in prison, 34, 35, 36, 37, 
38; released from prison, 39; his 
property confiscated, 40; engages 
in mercantile business, 41 ; res- 
cues prisoner, 43, 44; taken cap- 
tive by Dejean, 45 ; called before 
Commandant Mountpresent, 46; 
ordered to prison, 46 ; released, 
47; threatened by Hamilton, 50; 
goes to Sandusky, 51 ; seized by 
Dejean, 51; cast into goal, 52; 
his property confiscated second 
time, 52 ; brought before Mr. 
Printices, Provost Marshal at 
Quebec, 53 ; put on board prison 
ship Mariah, 53 ; visited by Mr. 
Murray, Commissary of Prison- 
ers, 53; paroled, 54; encounter 
with Mr. Jones, 55 ; forced to 
give bonds, 55; leaves Quebec, 
56; arrives at Boston, 56; sent 
by Gates to General Washing- 
ton, 56 ; appears before Congress, 
56. 

Dodge, John, Sr., father of John 
Dodge, 6. 

Dodge, Lydia Rogers, wife of John 
Dodge, 6. 

Dodge Narrative, time and place, 
5 ; importance, 5 ; reprints, 5. 

Edgar, John ; Dodge attempts to 
carry off slaves of, 15; old friend 
of Dodge, 15; arrested and con- 
fined at Detroit, 15, 16; witness 
for Dodge, 16. 

Fort Pitt, (Pittsburg), Dodge's 



visit to, 8 ; conference with In- 
dians at, 16; speech of Shengena- 
ba at, 16. 

Gates, General, Dodge visits at 
Boston, 56. 

Gibson, John, agent for Indian af- 
fairs, 32. 

Hamilton, Lieut. Gov. Henry, cru- 
elties and irregularities of his 
rule in Detroit, 5 ; indicted for 
murder, 5 ; confined in irons, 6 ; 
sends Dodge as prisoner to Que- 
bec, 7; bribes savages, 9; cap- 
tured by Gen. George Rogers 
Clark, 13; released from prison 
and reinstated as lieutenant gov- 
ernor of Canada, 14; letters of 
Colonel Clark relating to, 19; 
incites Indians to perpetrate cru- 
elties, 20; Committee's report as to 
his treatment of John Dodge, 20, 
21 ; gives standing reward for 
scalps, 21, 32; capture by Colonel 
Clark at Fort St. Vincent (Vin- 
cennes), 28; dissuades Indians 
from assembling at Fort Pitt, 30, 
31; Dodge writes letter to, 33; 
throws Dodge into prison at De- 
troit, 34; advises Dodge not to 
try to obtain redress, 40; orders 
Dodge to march Avith scouting 
party of savages, 41 ; threatens 
Dodge, 42, 50; succeeded by Cap- 
tain Mountpresent, 42 ; returns to 
Detroit, 49 ; orders Dodge de- 
tained at Quebec, 54, 55. 

Harman papers, their reference to 
Dodge, 15. 

Henry, Moses ; Henry Dodge, his 
namesake, 14; his bravery at Vin- 
cennes, 14, 15. 

Henry, Patrick, commissions Dodge 
as Colonel, 14. 

Heron, James, aids Dodge in in- 
ducing Indians to make treaty, 
31- 

Illinois (Islianoy) Country, the, 
Dodge refers to it in letter to 
Congress, 17, 18; effect of its 



62 



occupancy by troops under Col. 
Clark, 17, 18. 
Indians, bribed by Hamilton, 9; 
offered standing reward for 
scalps, 21 ; invited by Capt. 
James Wood to a treaty at Fort 
Pitt, 16, 29; dissuaded by Ham- 
ilton from assembling at Fort Pitt, 
29, 30; persuaded by argument 
of Dodge and Heron, 31; make 
treaty with Commissioners of Con- 
gress, 32; their cruelty to pris- 
oners, 42, 43, 44. 

Jones, John Rice, letter from, 15. 
Jones, Mr., in company with Dodge, 
55- 

Kaskaskia, Dodge located there as 
Indian Agent, 14; visits, 15; 
writes letter from, 15. 

Kichoga, 9. 

Lafleur, Joseph Poupard, sells land 
to Dodge, 6. 

Lamothe, William (Le Mote), pris- 
oner of war, 13, 19; Captain of 
Volunteers, 19; captain of volun- 
teer scalping party of Indians and 
whites, 20 ; his capture by Col. 
Clark, of Virginia at Fort St. Vin- 
cent (Vincennes), 28; commands 
scouting Indians, 41, 42. 

Mackinac, 7. 

Mariah, prison ship, Dodge con- 
fined on, 53. 

Mcintosh, General, marches from 
Beaver Creek, 9 ; Dodge censures 
in letter to Congress, 11. 

Michilimackinac, Dodge trades at, 
41 ; arranges to send rescued pris- 
oner there, 45. 

Missouri Historical Society, refer- 
ences to Dodge, 15. 

Montgomery, General, Dodge speaks 
in his defense, 55. 

Montour, John, letter to from 
Dodge, 8. 

Mountpresent, Capt., 42, 47, 50. 

Morgan, Col., his arrival at Pitts- 



burg, 12; sends message to the 
Indian (Endian) Nations, 12. 
Murray, Mr., Commissary of Pris- 
oners, visits Dodge, 53; informs 
Dodge that he is not to go with 
prisoners, 54. 

New Orleans, 15. 

New York, visited by Dodge, 15. 

Ohio District, John Dodge in, 6. 

Patridge, Mr., Dodge's letter to 

Congress referred to, 19. 
Philadelphia, visited by Dodge, 15. 
Piankeshaw Indians, 15. 
Pittsburg (Fort Pitt), Dodge visits, 

15; 

Pontiac, his son Shegenaba speaks 

at Fort Pitt, 16, 17. 
Presque Isle (Preskeele), 9. 
Printice, Mr., Provost Marshal of 

Quebec, 53. 
Pue, Jacob, of Virginia, hired to 

attend fellow prisoner, 47. 

Quebec, John Dodge sent as pris- 
oner to, 7, 53; escapes, 7; visited 
by Dodge, 15. 

Sandusky (Ohio), Dodge locates 
there as a trader, 6, 29 ; visits, 
15; disturbed by Revolutionary 
War, 29; Savages hostile in, 32. 

Shawnee Indians, 16. 

Shegenaba, son of Pontiac, speech 
at Fort Pitt, 16, 17. 

Ste Genevieve (Mo.), Dodge bur- 
ied at, 14; Dodge visits, 15. 

Sugar Creek (Shugar Criek), 9. 

Tanisee River, the, Hamilton ap- 
points council of Indians to meet 
at the mouth of, 20. 

Tucker, William, has negotiations 
with John Dodge, 6. 

Vincennes (Ind.), George Rogers 
Clark at, 13; captured by Gov. 
Hamilton, 14; visited by Dodge, 
16; Hamilton, Dejean, and La- 
mothe taken prisoners at, 28. 



63 



Virginia, Council of, letters and 
narratives of Dodge read by 
members of, 13 ; recommends the 
punishment of Henry Hamilton, 
Philip Dejean and Wm. La 
Mothe, 13 ; expenses in connec- 
tion with the Illinois country, 17. 

Washington, Gen. George, Dodge 

meets him, 7, 56. 
Williamsburg ( Va. ), Hamilton 

taken to by Clark, 13. 



Wolcot, Mr., Dodge's letter to Con- 
gress referred to, 19. 

Wood, James, appointed to com- 
mand expedition against the 
Shawnee, 16; deputed to invite 
Western Indians to" a treaty at 
Fort Pitt, 16, 29; his fatigues, 
difhculties and dangers, 16; his 
compensation, 16; meeting with 
the Indians, 16; calls at the house 
o'f Dodge, 29. 



64 







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